Seymour is a down-on-his-luck florist with a crush on his co-worker Audrey. When he discovers a mysterious – and voracious – plant, suddenly Seymour and Audrey are thrust into an epic battle that will determine the fate of the entire human race. Little Shop of Horrors made its highly-anticipated return home to Off-Broadway, in an intimate new production directed by Michael Mayer that offers an unprecedented opportunity to get close — maybe too close — to an incredible plant with an insatiable appetite.
To populate this parable, Mayer has wrangled a marvelous cast. Dressed in hilariously lumpy clothes, Groff's Seymour is a likable klutz with just a hint of deadpan creepiness. As Audrey's abusive boyfriend, the sadistic biker dentist Orin Scrivello-and in a bevy of smaller parts-Christian Borle solidifies his status as the preeminent musical-theater clown of his generation: His performance is a master class in milking. The three street urchins-cutely named Ronette (Ari Groover), Crystal (Salome Smith) and Chiffon (Joy Woods)-are nicely individuated (though Ellenore Scott's choreography sometimes keeps them too busy). And Blanchard is a revelation. Many actors try to imitate the magical brittle ditziness of Little Shop's original Audrey, and merely wind up somewhere that's not quite Ellen Greene; Blanchard takes the character to a different world entirely. She's earthy and tough, with a bee-stung face and a manner that suggests a world of pain in her past. She's the heart of the production, and she's heartbreaking.
What may seem like miscasting with the hunky Groff as the meekly innocuous Seymour was a stroke of genius. He's both endearing and dreamy, which adds a deeper dimension to his romantic pairing with Tammy Blanchard's Audrey. And if she seemed to struggle with some of the high notes, it only added to her vulnerable take on the role of the good-hearted masochist. Channeling Judy Holliday, her soulful pining for a decent home somewhere that's green was wrenching. And then there's Christian Borle, hilariously inspired as the nasty nitrous oxide snorting Oren Scrivello DDS. But that's far from all. Playing multiple roles, he distinguished each one with such particular virtuosity that he steals practically every scene he's in. It's a master class in comedy performance and if you see it just for him, you got your money's worth. The cozy venue upstairs at the Westside Theatre is perfectly suited to this hugely entertaining little show. I expect it to be planted there for many months, if not years, to come.
1982 | Off-Off-Broadway |
Showcase Off-Off-Broadway |
1982 | Off-Broadway |
Original Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
1983 | West End |
London Production West End |
2003 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2004 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
2004 | Regional (US) |
Regional Production Regional (US) |
2007 | West End |
West End Transfer West End |
2015 | Off-Broadway |
City Center Encores Off-Center Production Off-Broadway |
2018 | West End |
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Production West End |
2018 | Washington, DC (Regional) |
Kennedy Center Broadway Center Stage Revival Washington, DC (Regional) |
2019 | Regional (US) |
2019 Pasadena Playhouse Production Regional (US) |
2021 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway Revival Off-Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Tammy Blanchard |
2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Christian Borle |
2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Little Shop of Horrors |
2020 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design for a Musical | Julian Crouch |
2020 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Christian Borle |
2020 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Jonathan Groff |
2020 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Little Shop of Horrors |
2020 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Jonathan Groff |
2020 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Michael Mayer |
2020 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Christian Borle |
2020 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Little Shop of Horrors |
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